Integrated Satellite Avionics with High Reliability and Low Cost Based on a Monolithic System-on-Programmable-Chip

Satellites become critical to space exploration, global communication, Earth observation, and navigation. There is a growing need for satellite avionics that are highly integrated, reliable, and low-cost, which is essential for mass production and reliable on-orbit operation. This work demonstrates integrated satellite avionics with high reliability and low cost based on a monolithic programmable system-on-chip (SoPC) through highly synergistic hardware–software co-design, with successful on-orbit validation. The system highly integrates satellite management, attitude and orbit control, power management, telecontrol and telecommand (TC&TM), and data storage into a monolithic PolarFire® SoC (System-on-Chip), and leverages an asymmetric multiprocessing (AMP) architecture. It achieves significant reductions in size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) while ensuring comprehensive functionality and operational reliability. The Jilin-1 Gaofen-05A mission verified the proposed SoPC-based satellite avionics for low Earth orbit (LEO) commercial satellites. Long-term telemetry data confirms its stable operation, with a bus voltage ranging from 11.4 to 12.3 V, an average power consumption of 33.4 W, and a solar array output current of 6.2–6.5 A, all of which meet the design expectations. This work offers a feasible technical approach and engineering reference for commercial integrated satellite avionics featuring high reliability and cost efficiency.